Next up for SpaceX - Pad Abort Test for Dragon, Tomorrow (May 6th) [Updated]

Update: May 6th. The Pad Test was successfully executed this morning.  The video from the Lifestream broadcast is below.

Before getting into the subject of this post, I'd like to acknowledge that this blog has become very SpaceX centered. That wasn't the intent - and still isn't - but it seems that SpaceX news fills the limited amount of time I have to devote to blogging. And they are doing such innovative and imaginative work that deserves to be shared. I do follow other commercial space companies, as well as NASA and other space agencies, but its likely that something extraordinary would have to occur with them in order to be shared here at this point.

On with the post.

With the Thales (TürkmenÄlem) mission complete, and the next launch scheduled for June, SpaceX will squeeze in the first test of the escape system for the human rated Dragon, now dubbed "Crew Dragon" in SpaceX's news release.

Pad Abort Test Infographic [click image to see a larger version]

This first test is the Pad Abort Test, which tests the spacecraft's emergency crew escape capability for an emergency that may occur while the rocket is still on the launch pad. An upcoming second test will test the escape capability from an in-flight rocket.

While these tests may not seem as exciting as full launch - especially one that attempts to drop the Falcon rocket onto a small floating landing pad - it is actually a very difficult process with some very impressive metrics. For example, Dragon's eight SuperDraco engines will produce 120,000 pounds of thrust to propel the spacecraft 328 ft (almost 100 meters) in 2 seconds, and 1/3 mile (more than half a kilometer) in just over 5 seconds.
To put that into perspective, that's just about the same as the national record for the 1/4 mile (drag race), which is currently 3.701 seconds. One hell of a ride for sure!

Another point of interest is that SpaceX is attempting to improve on the traditional, familiar escape "tower" that was stuck to the nose of spacecraft from almost the beginning of the U.S. space program. This tower contained a cluster of rockets that would effectively pull the spacecraft off of - and away from - the rocket. While this was effective when the rocket was on the pad, and for the first part of the ascent, it becomes ineffective within a couple of minutes. The built in SuperDraco thrusters on the other hand remain operational, and are maintained throughout the flight. These are also the thrusters that will enable Dragon to "land propulsively on Earth or another planet with the precision of a helicopter".

Read the full news release for details.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo's first flight a success

Congratulations to Virgin Galactic on a successful first powered flight of SpaceShipTwo!  This flight tested the key components of the craft, and propelled it to Mach 1.2 and an altitude of 56,000 ft. (17,000 meters).  I won't go into the details as they are covered very well in articles all over the internet, such as this one.

CREDIT: MarsScientific.com and Clay Center Observatory 

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo to attempt Supersonic Flight on Monday

Last year the FAA cleared Virgin Galactic to begin SpaceShipTwo tests.  This Monday, the first of those tests is planned, with the hope of taking the craft supersonic.  According to founder, Richard Branson, the test will attempt to break the sound barrier, and then "build up" through the remainder of the year leading to a sub-orbital "space" flight around year end.  The first "official flight" is scheduled for the first quarter of 2014, and Mr. Branson plans to be aboard, along with his family.

It will be a big milestone for space tourism.

The Smithsonian has created a new exhibit at the Air and Space Museum named "Moving Beyond Earth".  This new exhibit is at the main museum location (on the National Mall).  Information, including many videos, is here at the exhibit's page.

Older Posts

This is my new blog, which will be dedicated to Space.  Primarily, Commercial Space and especially the news from commercial companies that are advancing human exploration and space tourism, such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, Bigelow Aerospace and others.  My original posts were mixed into a blog that contained everything I blogged about, and an index to them is below.

12/18/2012 SpaceX winning more commercial space launch business. Busy year ahead.

11/20/2012 SpaceX Grasshopper takes another hop

10/30/2012 SpaceX Dragon is home, safe and sound

10/23/2012 SpaceX COTS Demo 2/3 mission launched May 22nd also a memorial to "Mr. Scott" and others

10/12/2012 SpaceX's Secondary Payload, the Orbcomm satellite falls from orbit

10/11/2012 SpaceX Dragon completes first leg of mission

10/08/2012 SpaceX Dragon on it way to ISS

10/06/2012 SpaceX: All systems are "Go"